Preservers of Immortal Lore - Mummy's Mask Adventure Path

Shifting Sands (Act 1)

The Undead Rising is Defeated (subtitled: The Fourth Wall Must Die and Empty Graves has Ended)

21

MAY/16

Has it been 3 months already? Is Zar really returning to the fray? Has the new dog completely shattered the lives of the GM and his family? Find out all of this and more on the next episode of Soap!

Oh wait…

ROLLFORINITIATIVE!

When last the PIL met, before venturing off on a tangent plane involving giants and other strange creatures (giants are obviously stranger than the tekenu, right?), they had just defeated Nebta-Khufre in the Sepulcher of the Servant. The undead rising is quenched, order is restored, rest is on the menu for the first time in well, probably only a few days, but still… rest is on the menu!

As Anck-Su-Natari pulls the heretofore unidentified mask from Nebta’s head, she is overcome with power she had never felt before. “This must be the mask that we have been tracking!” she shouts. “Ptemenib will need to see this, with any luck, the church will understand its true powers!” replies Zar. It is indeed very powerful, the stuff of legends and of gods. Bumi looks around, “is there anything else to punch?”. “NO!” comes a shout from somewhere unknown to the PIL. “YOUMUSTRETURN TO THECHURCH OF PHARASMA.” “Damn GM, always getting in the way of our fun.”

So back to the church for the merry band of adventurers (OK, so they aren’t merry, they nearly died, they’re rather tired, very ticked off, and ready for some payout since it WASPROMISED). “Yeah, yeah, I hear you” the voice shouts. Meera mutters something about shutting up and getting to the chase…

As the PIL come walking up to the church stairs, Ptemenib is already leading a ritual to lay waste to the remaining undead (word travels fast in fantasy settings). He immediately rushes up to the party once finished, congratulating them on their success. “The stores and shops should be open as normal by morning, it looks as though you have have some bargaining to undertake then?” he quips, aware that the PIL are ready for a change of pace. “Sebti, Nakht, and some of the church elders would like to talk to you about the source of the undead rising.” Anck agrees without hesitation, handing the mask over to Ptemenib, since it clearly had an impact on her when she first peeled it from Nebta’s head.

After a few hours have passed, a nice bath, a good lunch, some unmentionable relaxation techniques, Ptemenib summons the PIL back to the church for dinner and drinks while discussing the Mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh (his words exactly). Upon arrival, the PIL are immediately seated and given the necessary background…

There is very little information regarding the Forgotten Pharaoh, or Hakotep, or the Sky Pharaoh. However, it is believed that Hakotep I ruled Osirion as pharaoh in the very distant past, but all records have been lost. His name survives on cartouches found in an ancient network of earthworks now known as the Slave Trenches of Hakotep. The Sky Pharaoh is apparently not connected to Hakotep whatsoever, though a later pharaoh, Menedes I, did claim the title but the two seem to be unconnected as well.

Sebti and Ptemenib have requested that the PIL investigate the origins of the mask, as well as the strange cult (the Cult of the Forgotten Pharaoh, apparently as hard to investigate as Hakotep) and their intentions. The Grand Mausoleum is tapped out at the moment (imagine that), so Sebti advises (requests) that the PIL travel to nearby Tephu to consult is rather extensive library. Perhaps there is more information to be found in the ancient tomes contained within? Our story begins anew as the PIL steps off the boat (literally a few hours after departure, Wati and Tephu are called sister cities for a reason). The church has agreed to give the PIL the Mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh, for now, in hopes that they will be able to uncover its true power.

I will update with other notes in posts attached to this log entry.

Comments

The Mask of the Forgotten Pharaoh (what you know so far):
The mask is carved from gold and inlaid with cobalt, lapis lazuli, and onyx. It is, by any measure, a sight to behold. While the church was unable to discern its true power, what they did uncover is certainly worth mentioning. The mask occupies BOTH the head and headband slots. Once adorned, it grants the wearer +2 to a mental stat of his (or her) choice, which increases to +4 at 7th level. Beyond this, the church was unwilling to test. The remaining powers, however, must be discovered either through use, or study.